Machine for distributing poison for gophers



Feb. 19, 1929.

Filed Oct. 5, 1927 'h/LWESSG 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 "IL L [AM K. HUM/WIFE Y ATTORNEYS.

w. K. HUMPHREY l MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING POISON FOR GOPHERS Filed Oct. 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Shet 2 V IN VEN TOR. W/L LIAM h- "IUMFWFEY BY 1 WHO/Rivas.

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM x. HUMPHREY, or MOOSE raw, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING POISON FOR GOPHERS.

Application filed October 5, 1927. Serial No. 224,216.

This invention relates to dispensing devices and pertains particularly to a dispenser designed especially for placing poison food such as poisoned corn, in gopher holes and at other points where the same will be accessible to animals which are to be destroyed.

The primary object of the present Invention is to provide a dispensing device of the above described character which at eachoperation of a control member will place a predetermined quantity of material.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a new and novel means of controlling a supply valve. 1

Numerous other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become app-an out as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows the dispensing device embodying the present invention in side elevatlOl'i.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the dispensing device rotated a quarter turn to theleft from the position which is shown in Figure 1. i

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detailed side elevational view of the supply valve controlling device with a portion of the supporting structure therefor broken away. I

Figure 6 1s a section taken substantially,

upon the line 66 of Figure 5. I

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views the numeral 1 indicates the polson food reservoir hopper which, as shown is of relatively long cylindrical design and tapers slightly from the top'to the lower end thereof. The lower end terminates in the cone shaped bottom portion 2 from the central portion of which the elongated discharge spout or nozzle 3 extends. A foot 4 is secured across the lowerend of the discharge nozzle 3 and as shown thisfoot comprises a substantially U shaped member having the free ends of the legs thereof secured at diametrically opposite points to the end of the nozzle 3 so that the yoke portion extends across the open end of the nozzle in the manner shown. With this device the apparatus can be rested upon the ground without choking or preventing the contents discharging therefrom... Y

The top of the reservoir or hopper 1 is closed by the removable closure member which fits snugly in the top of the reservoir and this member has the handle 6 secured thereto. At one side of the reservoir adjacent the top edge, an auxiliary handle 7 is secured. i i 1 L Extending through the upper portion of the discharge nozzle 3,is a tubular shaft8 which is rotatably mounted in the nozzle and which carries within thenozzle the fourleaved valve indicated as a whole by the numeral 9. As shown in Figure 4 the leaves 10 are so arranged that opposite leaves are in the Same plane and adjacent leaves are right angularly related, whereby to provide compartments similar in size and thus insure the discharge of a predetermined quantity of powder on each operation of the valve 9. Upon the outer end of the hollow shaft 8 a four toothed ratchet wheel 11 is secured, the face of each of the four teeth 12 being in the same plane as one of the leaveslO of the valve structure 9.

An encasing housing 13, having the front cover 14, is secured to the lower portion of the hopper 1 and encloses the ratchet wheel as shown. Extending into the hollow shaft 8 is a fixed shaft 15, one end of which extends a substantial distance beyond the end of the hollow shaft 8 as shown in Figure 6 and is secured in the cover plate 14.

Mounted upon the fixed shaft 15 in the housing 13 is an operating lever 18, the outer end of which is directed downwardly and terminates in the eye 19. That portion of the lever 18 which is attached to the shaft 15is normally maintained in engagement with the face of one of the ratchet wheel teeth 19 through the action of the coil spring 20 which surrounds the shaft 15 and bears at its inner end upon the crank 18 and at its outer end against the cotter key 21 which is passed through the shaft 15 adjacent the cover plate 14, as shown. As will be understood from this when the crank or lever arm 18 is drawn upwardly it will engage the face of the adjacent tooth 12 and rotate the valve 9 and when the lever arm is returned to the position shown in Figure 5 it will move outwardly upon the shaft 15 against the tension of the spring 20 to ride overthe underlying ratchet tooth 12 after which it will be forced inwardly by the spring to engage the face of the ratchet tooth.

In order to insure the return of the crank arm 18 without reversing the rotation of the ratchet member 11 and the shaft attached thereto, a spring tongue 22 is positioned so that the free end thereof will engage one of the teeth of the ratchet member after the same has been rotated to discharge a quantity of poison from the nozzle 3 and prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet. This spring arm 22 may be attached in any convenient manner as by riveting one end to the bottom 2 of the hopper as shown by Figure 5.

Secured to the side of the hopper adjacent the upper end thereof, is a guide member 23 through which the upper end of a valve control rod 24 extends, this rod terminating at the upper end in a handle 25 and at the lower end connecting in the eye 19 of the lever 18. A springniember 26 surroundshis control rod 24 and bears at one end against the under side of the bracket 23, the other end being secured to the rod as shown. In this manner 1t will be readily understood that the spring 26 acts to normally maintain the rod 24 and the lever 18 in down position shown in Figure 5.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that in operation the user after placing the discharge end of the nozzle in the desired position draws upwardly upon the valve control rod 24 thus swinging the lever arm 18 and causing the quarter turn or rotation of the ratchet wheel 11 and the valve 9. This discharges a certain quantity of the poison food and upon release of the rod 24 the spring 26 will act to move the rod down wardly and thus return the lever 18 to the former position ready to be operated for the discharge of another batch of poison.

The housing 13 protects the ratchet and spring, preventing injury thereto and the catching of the same in weeds and grass.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a poison distributor of the character described, a hopper member, a discharge nozzle leading from said hopper, a hollow shaft rotatably supported by and extending transversely through said nozzle, a measuring valve fixed to said shaft within the nozzle, a fixed shaft extending at one end into said hollow shaft, and having the other end projecting a substantial distance beyond one end of the hollow shaft, a'ratchet member fixed to said hollow shaft exteriorly of the nozzle, an actuating lever mounted upon said fixed shaft, :1 spring element upon said fixed shaft and normally maintaining said lever in engagement with said ratchet, and a valve actuating rod connected with said lever and controllable from the upper end of said hopper.

2. In a poison distributor of the character described, a hopper member, a discharge nozzle leading from said hopper, a hollow shaft rotatably supported by and extending transversely through said nozzle, a measuring valve fixed to said shaft within the nozzle, a fixed shaft extending at one end into said hollow shaft, and having the other-end project ing a substantial distance beyond one end of the hollow shaft, a ratchet member fixed to said hollow shaft exteriorly of the nozzle, an actuating lever mounted upon said fixed shaft, a spring element upon said fixed shaft and normally maintaining said lever in engagement with said ratchet, a valve actuating rod connected with said lever and controllable from the upper end of said hopper, and a foot member secured to the discharge end of said nozzle and designed to permit the placing of the device upon a supporting surface without obstructing the discharge of the nozzle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM K. HUMPHREY. 

